LEE McCULLOCH last night admitted his 20-year career is close to ending.

The former Scotland star is savouring his coaching role at Kilmarnock having been handed added responsibility by boss Gary Locke.

McCulloch arrived at Rugby Park as a player-coach but the latter role is now taking precedence.

He takes training on a daily basis with coaching colleague Peter Leven and his own workouts have been limited with his focus elsewhere.

McCulloch has made one appearance this term, back in August. But although he remains registered he admits only an emergency will see him return.

At the age of 37 the former Motherwell, Wigan and Rangers ace, who won 18 caps, has altered his priorities.

With Stuart Findlay, Conrad Balatoni, Lee Ashcroft and skipper Mark Connolly all available to Locke, McCulloch said: “I’m not training at all just now.

“The manager did it all himself last season. This year he wanted to take a step back and have an overview so it’s myself and Peter who take training.

“He tells us what has to be done and I’m really enjoying it, it’s different and I’m learning.

“But with me doing that I’m not training so I go into the gym to stay fit.

Rangers captain Lee McCulloch wheels away after putting his side 1-0 up

“When I came here I did say I didn’t want to be playing unless there were injuries. As it stands there are four fit centre-halves and I don’t want to be even trying to get in front of them.

“Should there be injuries or suspensions and there isn’t a young boy to come into the team I might need to play. But that’s far away just now.

“I just want to concentrate on helping the manager get good results.”

McCulloch’s point was reinforced by the solidity of the display at Celtic Park six days ago.

Faced with the champions on their own patch Locke’s team were organised and disciplined and dug out a 0-0 draw for a precious point.

McCulloch insists morale has been boosted by the result in Glasgow’s East End and said: “The result at Celtic Park was good and we could have nicked it at the end with a couple of chances we had.

“We’d lost two games so to get a point on the board sets us up for two important games coming up.

“The captain, Mark, came back for his first game in a wee while for what was only our second clean sheet. That’s terrible but it’s not just the defence, it’s the full team not defending properly.

Lee McCulloch in action for Scotland (Image: SNS)

“At the start of the season we spoke about changing the club’s mentality. We have not been in the top six for a few years so it was about changing to a winning formula. It’s going all right just now but we need to keep winning games. There is a bit of belief coming through but it takes time.

“There were seven or eight signed in the summer and it was going to take time but they are settled in now.”

McCulloch, meanwhile, has confirmed Tope Obedayi is fit for the game against Partick Thistle tomorrow after the challenge that put Celtic captain Scott Brown out for up to three months.

He said: “Losing Brown is a blow to Celtic as they have some vital games coming up but it might give some others an opportunity.

“I didn’t see the challenge but Tope is all right and I hope Scott recovers well.”